Tag: USA

President-elect Donald Trump's tough talk on trade appears to be paying off even before he formally takes office. In the days since the results of Tuesday's election, two-thirds of North American Free Trade Agreement trading bloc have already expressed interest in starting talks to renegotiate the landmark accord. During the campaign season, then candidate Trump made rewriting or withdrawing from NAFTA a pillar of his economic policy. Trump has minced no words in describing the agreement as a job killer and cause for wage stagnation in the U.S, as companies fled south seeking cheaper labor costs. Just this week, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a staunch proponent of trade, announced his willingness to head back to the negotiating table, acknowledging that over time trade deals must be given another look to…

Definition: NAFTA (the North American Free Trade Agreement) is a treaty between Canada, the United States, and Mexico that removes trade barriers. By eliminating trade barriers, NAFTA increases investment opportunities. The NAFTA agreement is 2,000 pages. It has eight sections and 22 chapters. That makes it the world’s largest free trade agreement as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Either the Trans-Pacific Partnership or the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership will replace it. They must first be ratified. NAFTA is still controversial. First, the U.S. lost many manufacturing jobs to lower-cost Mexico. Second, workers in jobs that weren't outsourced had to accept lower wages. Third, Mexico's workers suffered exploitation in its maquiladora programs. For more, see NAFTA's disadvantages. Yet, U.S. grocery prices would be higher without tariff-free imports from Mexico. It's also clear that imports of oil from both Canada and Mexico prevent high gas prices. For updated…

Mexico has very low violent crime rates. The U.S. Assault rate is 5 times higher than Mexico’s. Mexico’s violent crime rates for Assault, Kidnapping and Rape are substantially lower than Canada’s and yet the U.S. State Department issues no such warnings for Canada. The rate for Rape in the U.S. is more than double the rate in Mexico. The numbers in the charts below have been adjusted for unreported crime from the respected 2012 Prominix report and are the most accurate statistics available on this subject. Unless you are involved in the drug trade, you are statistically safer in Mexico than anywhere else in North America. Even though the U.S. murder rate of 4 per 100,000 is lower than Mexico’s, tourists and visitors are statistically safer in Mexico and much…

THE DRAMATIC election of Donald Trump as US President has already sent shockwaves through global financial markets. The value of the dollar has fallen against safe haven currencies such as the yen but strengthened against the Mexican peso. As the financial markets react to his election, here is a look at what his presidency could mean for the global economy. What does Donald Trump’s victory mean for the markets? David Cheetham, market analyst at at XTB, said: “The news has reverberated around the globe and financial markets with large declines seen in stock markets and safe haven assets such as gold rallying. “The outcome of this contest has seemingly caught the markets off guard in a repeat of the Brexit vote with forecasters and reputable pollsters wide of the mark…

Health Emergencies in Mexico When you move to Mexico, you should acquaint yourself with the local medical and health facilities available in your local area. Find out where your nearest hospitals and clinics are, as well doctors, dentists and opticians and keep their telephone contact numbers at hand. You can find this information out from neighbors, friends, work colleagues or contact your local consulate who may be able to provide you with a list of local health facilities in the city or town where you live. Although Mexico has a number of universal emergency numbers, numbers for specific emergency services vary by state and locality, so inquire about the numbers for the local police, ambulance and fire station and keep these handy by the home and office phone (and save…